Labor Day fireworks in Chillicothe

Wednesday

Jul 11, 2012 at 12:01 AMJul 26, 2012 at 9:31 AM

By Catherine Stortz Ripley

C-T News Editor

The “oohs” and “aahs” that traditionally accompany the annual Fourth of July celebrations were not heard this year because a burn ban prohibited the use of all fireworks. However, Chillicothe officials are taking steps to allow the discharging of fireworks over the Labor Day holiday weekend.

Catherine Stortz Ripley/C-T News Editor

The “oohs” and “aahs” that traditionally accompany the annual Fourth of July celebrations were not heard this year because a burn ban prohibited the use of all fireworks. However, Chillicothe officials are taking steps to allow the discharging of fireworks over the Labor Day holiday weekend.
Mike Sensenich, owner of Kelly’s Fireworks, asked council members to consider passing an ordinance establishing the Labor Day holiday weekend as an alternative date for the discharging of fireworks in any given year, if a burn ban had prohibited the use of fireworks during the Fourth of July.
Kelly’s Fireworks — just north of Chillicothe, and similar to other temporary fireworks stands set up within the Chillicothe city limits — is licensed to sell fireworks up until July 10. While other stands packed up their inventory as early as July 4, as the burn ban continued, Sensenich remained open and is scheduled to close at the end of the day today (Tuesday).
Council members, with support from Fire Chief Darrell Wright, gave a general concensus to Sensenich’s request, and plan to pass an ordinance at their next meeting. The measure would establish the Labor Day weekend (Saturday, Sept. 1; Sunday, Sept 2; and Monday, Sept. 3) as alternative days. Council members emphasized that this would not be an additional date, but, rather, an alternative date, only used if a burn ban prohibits the discharging of fireworks during the Fourth of July holiday.
The council may also consider allowing fireworks stands to set up during the Labor Day holiday weekend, but retailers would still need to apply through the state and pay the fee for another license. Sensenich said that he would need to study whether that would be beneficial to his business.
Although the city plans to approve a fireworks ordinance providing the alternate days, there are no plans to reschedule the Freedom Fest fireworks display in the park.